Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-01-13

of this country; Of the terrible sacrince OF
Ii e and treasure that was cheerfuliy made 10
throw of the yoke of British oppression, ana
those great sacrifices resulted in the forma-
lion of a government on the western conti-
nent which was designed to be free govern
ment and one distinctvely American
Even in those early days our forefa'hers
reeognix ID the fact that all nations cherished
a most kindly feeling toward their merchant
marine. and that ours would be thing OF
national Importance, and in time would be
the pride of our people and the nation.
To accomplish this grand result, the found
ers of the government, in their WISDOM,
placed in the organic Law Of the land such
provision as would perpetuate the nationaiity
of our merchant marine. by declaring that
no enrolmens or register should De tssued I,
any other than an American bul.t vessel. ana
that no person other than an American citi-
zen should be registered ~ an owner OF the
same, thus making absolutely sure that the
merchant marine of this country shouid De
American not only in timel OF peace ana
prospe ity, but in the dark hours OF foreign
war, when the strength of the ns'ion ana .ne
patriotism Of the people would be thoroughly
tested.
By this wise provision was created an in
the foundation OF the government down TO
the present time given to many hundreds of
Thousands of our people employ nent, which
has brought thrift ami prosperity to all
the States of the Union, and provided
a nursery Of seamen who could always be re-
lied upon TO man our national vessels IN the
time of war.
Thus protected this industry grew and
prospered, keeping abreast with the growth
and prospe .ity of the Nation; and it was the
pride of our people that their ships carried
the American flag into every kaown port Of
the world.
In fact this industry made such rapid
stride that we were well nigh mistress of the
seas, but our hour of misfortune came in
the form of civil war. Then il WAS that
the mother country hostile to free govern
.ment, chagrined BY the unparalleled prosper
ity and growth Of this country, sought TO
weaken and destroy US BY giving aid and
comfor, to the confederacy
During that terrible struggle to preserve
the honor and integrity and to MAINTAIN the
unity of the nation, it was found necessary TO
make use of our merchant marine to great
extent, as a part of our naval force, and to
blockade thousands of miles of our coast;
this withdrew large part Of the commerce
of this country from competing with other
nations for the foreign carving trade.
Our ship yards were speedily brought into
requisrion for building a navy, therefore
during the civil war could do little or nothing
toward maintaining our commerce, whilst
those put into government service were rap
idly destroyed or decayed, and became OF no
value.
At this critical moment England saw her
70 fO n
fourth rate maritime power, and permitted
her rrivateers to prey upon our commerce.
aud with fiendsh malignty burnt our ships
upon the high seas. and even went into the
Arctic regions and burnt our whaling fleet
and continued her destruction until the kear-
sage sent to the bottom of the ocean. En-
glands swiftest and most powerful privateer
Threatened destruction Of our whole mer-
chant marine fleet, caused many, either from
fear or lack of patriotism, to place their ship
ping uLder foreign flags, in order that they
might save the high rate of war premiums
and be able TO compete for business.
During the time that this loss occurred,
England gave her attention to iron and steel
vessels, instead of wood and steam to take
the place of sails. Whilst she was placing
her iron and steam upon the ocean, Onr ship
builders. merchants and capitalists were en-
gagged in the patriotic duty of saving the
nation
Thus il will be seen that our diminished
tonnage was the result of unholy and most
wicked causes, which were entirely beyond
our control
The safeguards thrown around our CON-
mercial interests upon the organization of our
government which have been sacredly guard
ed, down to the present time, are today en-
, h,v, Int I,nhtf Il
should ever become law, would completely
ruin all of our commerce and deprive us of
ever building vessels. so that in time of peace
we would be the laughing stock of all nations
and in time of war we would be at the mercy
of the invading power.
Could there be a more humiiating specta-
Gle than, for an American legislator in the
halls of an American Congress, to be obliged
to defend an American industry, one of ma
tional importance, against the encroachment
of an alien g0vernment-yea, against Brit
ish LOBBY backed by British gold?
Today the best interests of the United
States are threatened by just such legislation.
Section | of House bill No. 1919, known as
the Dunn free ship bill. is as follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled: That Sec
ton fortv-one hundred and thirty-two of the
Revised Statutes of the United States be, and
the same is hereby amended so as to read as
follows, namely:
"Sec. 4l32. All vessels owned wholly BY
citizens of the United States, or by a company
Incorporated by the laws of the United States,
or of any State or Territory thereof, may be
registered as directed in this title; and it
shall hereafter be lawful for all citizens of
the United States to buy vessels built in
whole or in part in any foreign country i'm
port them free of duty or other charges and
have them registered as vessels of the United
States; and when so registered such vessels
so bough shall be entitled to all the RICH
and subjected only to the same regulations
as are now provided by law for the govern
ment ard management of vessels built wholly
within the United States and owned and con-
trolled by citizens thereof"
Mark the language used in this bill. at
shall hereafter be lawful for all citizens of
the United States to buy vessels built in
whole or in part in any foreign country. i'm
port them free of duty or other charges and
have them registered as vessels of the United
States"
| submit whether it would not be more
consistent to change the title of this bill. and
call it bill to increase the merchant marine
of England
place all of our ocean carrying trade in the
hands of the British capitalists, but would
also permit the English bottoms to enter into
competition for our coastwise and lake traffic,
and the cheapness of their hulls, and their